Prom—a classic high school event that happens once every year. It’s a time when upperclassmen gather with the ones they love. Whether that be a partner, friends or family, prom is meant for a good time and a night no Hylander will forget. But how about setting up for prom? Is it fun? Is it a lot of work? Well, at Columbia Heights High School (CHHS), the after-school group known as the Prom Committee met most Thursdays in CHHS English teacher and Prom Committee Advisor Ms. Tina Schaefer’s room (298). At meetings, they discussed fundraising, theme options, prom king and queen, decorations and even the venue.
Thanks to their efforts, ticket prices for 2025’s May 10 prom were cheaper than ever! Last year, prices for prom were $90! However, this year, it was cut down to a much more affordable $60 per person. With nearly 200 tickets sold, it’s clear that the Harriet Island riverboat—unlike previous years’ proms, which were held at U.S. Bank Stadium—was enough of a shake-up in location and price that plenty of juniors and seniors were both able and eager to secure their spot and be part of an unforgettable night.
Speaking of unforgettable, every prom has to have a theme, right? It’s part of the fun and the memory-making! This year, the prom committee team voted on two options: Roaring 20s and Masquerade. In the end, they went with Masquerade, but luckily, this theme matched well with its competitor and the 1920s Art Deco style was adapted into the designs of the posters, gift bags and decorations. In terms of dress, Hylanders sported professional attire such as suits along with decorative masks, lots of feathers and colors like gold, silver and dark blue.
One of the struggles of proms in recent years has been balancing novelty with affordability, and so instead of an old gymnasium for a stereotypical school dance or the cold, sterile architecture of a random room at U.S. Bank Stadium with an equally random DJ, Schaefer and the Prom Committee crew brought CHHS to the unique and picaresque locale of the Harriet Island riverboat! This change turned out to be both cheaper for the school and acted as a truly Instagram-worthy alternative for documenting some formative memories.
“Personally, I will be attending prom this year. Not because it’s on a boat, but because I am going with my friend,” Iris Bergan (11) said. “I do think that prom being on a boat will give it that extra push this year since I heard last year that it was mid.”
Problems the prom committee faced included encouraging students to buy tickets in advance, raising funds by selling donuts on Friday mornings and—perhaps most of all— getting the handmade decorations finished in time. Making decorations has not been a struggle for them as many students in the committee like junior Hayden Shackle and senior Gisselle Alvarado are particularly crafty; however, creating time for the often tedious and time-consuming task has been the problem. Backdrops, lights, potted flowers and masquerade-style masks required a large variety of supplies and a lot of planning out what would go where and what matches with what.
“Anytime there was a disagreement in the group, we’d take a vote, and the final decision is just something we had to deal with and get over,” Prom Committee member Yisele Manzanarez Hernandez (11) said.
The crew managed to pull it all off, though, and those who aren’t graduating this year are ready to take on the challenge again in 2026. Aside from the amazing decorations, an elaborate dinner with friends and partners and the complimentary printed and framed, seniors looked forward to one more thing than just all those. Couples who signed up for the voting had a chance of winning prom royalty. Ultimately, the honor went to long-time Hylander couple Khoi Le (12)—full disclosure: Le is Lead Podcaster for the Heights Herald—and Anahis Chacon Contreras (12).
“I was nervous because I thought that since the other girls [were] popular, I wouldn’t have won,” Chacon Conteras said. “I had a lot of [competition] going into this vote because Melat Mezgebe is a very popular student.”
Prom 2025 at Heights surely was one to remember—the boat ride, masquerade dancing and so much more are officially etched into Hylander history. What’s most important about prom was the fun had with loved ones who, no matter where they may wind up after graduation, will always have a place in each other’s hearts. Memories were captured—both in phones and in minds—so don’t forget to smile.
